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Zimbabwe passes 'snoop law'
14/06/2007 10:51 - (SA)
Harare - Zimbabwe's parliament, heavily dominated by President Robert Mugabe's party, has passed a controversial new law that allows the government to monitor phones, e-mails and the post, reports said on Thursday.
The Interception of Communications Bill, which critics say will violate freedom of expression, was passed on Wednesday.
The bill proposes the setting up of an interception of communications monitoring centre run by people appointed by the government.
Zimbabwe's Communications Minister Christopher Mushowe has defended the proposed law. He told parliament earlier this week that countries including Britain, the US and South Africa have similar laws.
"These are countries which are regarded as the beacons of democracy," he said on Tuesday.
But critics say the legislation will be used to further persecute government opponents, including the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, rights groups and independent journalists.
Under the proposed law the communications minister will be authorised to issue warrants for intercepting communications in cases where there are believed to be threats to national security.
Top security officials can apply for the warrants.
Legal experts say High Court judges and not a minister in Mugabe's cabinet should be responsible for issuing interception warrants.
Private internet service providers will be compelled to install, at their own expense, devices necessary for intercepting e-mails.
Zimbabwe already has stringent press and security laws seen as inhibiting freedom of expression.
The proposed new bill now has to be referred to the upper house of parliament, the Senate, where Mugabe's party also enjoys a comfortable majority. - Sapa-dpa
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